Thursday

Pastourelle (Word Definition) French Medieval Poetry

Pastourelle Definitions:

"a type of poetry concerning the romance of a shepherdess". [Wiktionary]

"A French (or Provençcal) medieval lyric characterized by its pastoral theme, usually the attempted seduction of a shepherdess by a gallant knight. Many examples survive from the troubadour and trouvère repertory of the 12th and 13th centuries." [Answers.com]

Pastourelle Interesting Facts:

The pastourelle poetic form contrasts with that of songs of courtly love.

In courtly love the object of desire is a noble lady where clear social constraints dictate events.

In the pastourelle, a commoner is the object of desire, with less refined associations-outcomes described or implied.

The point of view of a pastourelle is that of the man (knight).

Pastourelle Origins & History:

From the French.

Pastourelle is the French spelling of the Occitan word Pastorella.

Typically an Old French lyric form concerning the romance of a shepherdess (pictured).

This poetic form originated with the medieval troubadour poets of the 12th century.

In particular the form is associated with the poet Marcabru.

In the early pastourelles, the poet knight meets a shepherdess who gets the better of him in a wit battle, but also displays general coyness.

The poet knight (narrator) usually has sexual relations with the shepherdess, either by consent or rape.

Later examples of this poetic form moved toward pastoral poetry by having a shepherd & also sometimes a love quarrel.

Pastourelle, as a poetic troubadour form, blended with goliard poetry & was practiced in France & Occitan until the Carmina Burana of c. 1230.

The pastourelle, in Spanish literature, influenced the serranilla.

By the 15th century pastourelles existed in French, English, Welsh & German.

Image - Painting of a Shepherdess by William Bouguereau - 'Pastourelle'